An Ashbrook High School graduate birthed her way into the record books – literally.

Jill Clemmer and her record-holding triplets were recently named in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Clemmer, who now lives in Wilson, gave birth to the heaviest set of triplets. She and her children were recently posted on the iconic record-keeping book’s website and will adorn the pages of the book’s next publishing.

On Jan. 4, 2011, Clemmer gave birth to two sons and a daughter, all born by Caesarean section.

Ryan Morgan Clemmer came first at 6 pounds, 15.9 ounces.

Adyson Michelle Clemmer was next at 5 pounds, 13.5 ounces.

And Hayden Robert Clemmer arrived last at 7 pounds, 7.7 ounces.

The triplets had a combined weight of 20 pounds, 5.12 ounces, the heaviest at birth registered with Guinness Book.

The unusual record is fun for bragging rights, but it wasn’t easily achieved, according to Clemmer.

Big pregnancy

Jill and Craig Clemmer wanted children. They already had a daughter, but doctors weren’t optimistic about their ability to have another.

After help from medical fertility, they got the good news, times three.

“I was surprised, of course, because they had told us there was no way,” she said. “It was just one of those things. It was meant to be.”

Jill joked that her husband’s shock was reflected in his silence.

Months passed and the babies grew. Jill continued to go to work and to the gym.

She stayed healthy and hungry.

“I just ate as much as I could because I didn’t really have an appetite,” she said.

Eventually the weight of carrying three babies caught up with her.

“I was huge,” said Jill. “My legs were so swollen that it was painful to the touch.”

Jill gave birth to her babies after 32 weeks of pregnancy.

And while she knew the triplets had weighed her down, she was still surprised at the initial doctor’s report.

“When they gave them to me and they told me how much they weighed I thought I was still heavily drugged,” Jill joked.

Record holders

The Clemmers aren’t avid readers of the Guinness Book, but Jill said she’s looked at the editions in the past.

When she saw an article in the local newspaper about a woman making the record book for having the heaviest set of triplets, Jill said she wanted to set the record straight.

Turns out the other contender had the heaviest set of triplets, not the heaviest living set of triplets currently living.

The process of proving the claim was more involved than Jill imagined. She provided a stack of documents, made a lot of calls and waited. She just got the certificate last week.

Page 2 of 2 - Jill said she thought it’d be something special for her children to look back on later in life.

“It’s a cool thing to talk about, but I think it’ll be a really cool thing for the kids,” she said. “They’ll be able to say, ‘Not only was I a triplet but I was a record holder.’”

Hands full

The Clemmer babies were born on a Tuesday. They all came home within a week and have ruled the roost since.

Now toddlers, the triplets look nothing alike.

The family runs through the typical rash of colds and arguments over toys, but it’s all in a day of having four young children, Jill said.

“It’s busy. It’s crazy, but this is what I do,” she said. “I can’t put one kid in the corner because I don’t have time.”

People often marvel at the family when they go out – sometimes asking if they’re all their children.

Strangers tell Jill how they’d hate to be her. Or how she must have her hands full.

Jill said she and her husband balance it all out and make it work.

Sometimes the job takes creativity.

In addition to their joint birthday on Jan. 4, each of the toddlers gets a quarterly birthday. There aren’t additional gifts, but there is a celebration, said, Jill said.

The special day can include a special meal or dessert and serves to give some individuality to a trio that collectively holds a world record.

You can reach reporter Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.